The Special Olympics Unified Cup 2022 Celebrity Match kicked off before the women’s and men’s Division 1 Finals today at Keyworth Stadium in Detroit, Michigan. The Celebrity Match featured two teams (the red team and the black team) made up of celebrities and Special Olympics athletes. The Red Team won 4-1, led by Honorary Coaches Emma Broyles, Miss America 2022 and Special Olympics Champion Ambassador and Coach Fabimar Franchi, Manager of Women’s Development for CONMEBOL. The Black Team was coached by Earl Cureton, Former Detroit Piston, Ben Haack, Special Olympics athlete and member of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors and Mirek Krogulek from Special Olympics International.
Some featured players playing alongside Special Olympics athletes included:
- Tim Shriver, Chairman, Special Olympics International
- Tim Hileman, President, CEO of Special Olympics Michigan
- Abelaziz Bouderbala, Former Moroccan National Team Footballer
- Detroit Red Wings Captain Dylan Larkin
- Former Detroit Piston Earl Cureton
- DaMarcus Beasley, Former US Men’s National Team & International Footballer and MLS Footballer, Houston Dynamo
- Dale Moss, Special Olympics Global Ambassador, Former NFL Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears, Model, Actor & Media Personality
- Former Michigan Lt. Gov. Brian Calley
- Yazeed Matthews, from the Detroit City Football Club
A full list of all participants in the Celebrity Match are found below:
Black Team:
- Abelaziz Bouderbala, Former Moroccan National Team Footballer
- Amna Alaskar, Midfielder for Special Olympics UAE
- Brian Calley, Small Business Association of Michigan and Special Olympics Michigan Board Member
- Abudulaziz Alkattan, Forward with Special Olympics Saudi Arabia
- Chaka Daley, University of Michigan Head Coach of the Men’s Soccer Program
- Malik Berryel, Special Olympics Michigan athlete from Area 26
- Mark Hackel, Macomb County Executive
- Derik Ciesiolka, Special Olympics Michigan athlete from Area 26
- Tim Hileman, Special Olympics Michigan CEO
- Caleb Foster, Special Olympics Michigan athlete from Area 16
- Dylan Larkin, Captain of the Detroit Red Wings
- Lenka Janickovicova, Goalkeeper for Special Olympics
- Yazeed Matthews, From the Detroit City Football Club
- Fabian Delgado Piedra, Special Olympics Michigan athlete from Area 26
- Dale Moss, Special Olympics Global Ambassador and Former NFL Wide Receiver
- Papiya Murmu, Forward/Striker for Special Olympics Bharat
- Linda Potter, Special Olympics Volunteer
Red Team:
- Victoria Arlen, Special Olympics Champion Ambassador and Host of ESPN SportsCenter
- Micalan Berryel, Special Olympics Michigan athlete from Area 26
- DaMarcus Beasley, Former US Men’s National Team & International Footballer, former MLS Footballer with Houston Dynamo, and co-owner of Fort Wayne FC
- Jonah Bylsma, Special Olympics Michigan athlete from Area 12
- David Boudia, American Diver and Olympic athlete
- Max Hinga, Special Olympics Michigan athlete from Area 16
- Maurice Harvey, Detroit Lions Representative
- Tyler Lawton, Special Olympics Michigan athlete
- Josh Lambo, American Football Kicker, former MLS player and Michigan native
- Meybeline Mendoza, Forward for Special Olympics Costa Rica
- Tim Shriver, Chairman, Special Olympics International
- Timmy McDonald, Special Olympics Michigan athlete from SOMI Area 26
- Manu de Souza, Special Olympics footballer and Sargent Shriver International Global Messenger
- Angeline Sihova, Forward for Special Olympics Namibia
- Benedek “Beni” Tanyi, From Detroit City FC
- Denim Thomas, Special Olympics Michigan athlete from SOMI Area 26
- Richadela Williams, Defender/Forward for Special Olympics Caribbean